* The Truth has emerged & Deceit has vanished

The Truth has emerged & Deceit has vanished
Speech By Abu Omar Al-Baghdadi,
Amir, Islamic State of Iraq



Verily all praise is unto Allah, we praise Him, we seek His help and we ask His forgiveness, and we seek Allah’s refuge from the evils of ourselves and the evils of our sins, whoever Allah guides then none can misguide and who ever Allah misguides then none can guide. And I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, He has no partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His messenger and servant,Allah says:

We have written in the Zabur (Book of David) after the remembrance, that the earth shall be inherited by the pious servants. Verily in this is a message to a worshipping people. (21:105)

Oh Ummah of Islam, my beloved Ummah, your men have been determined to give Islam its nation, and establish within it its laws, and to obey therein its commands, and to gather within it its forces. To this end, they spilled their blood and spent their wealth; they left every desire and encountered every hardship. They sought out death where it was to be found, desiring victory or martyrdom, and then came the blessed step of establishing the firm foundation for the Islamic State in the land of the Two Rivers following the footsteps of the master of the Prophets and messengers. Now the building is being raised, seen by all who love it and hate it, that has led the enemy of Allah Bush to say after its blessed arrival, ” They wish to establish an Islamic state from China to Spain…” He told the truth though he is a liar.

I praise Allah and thank Him, that He guided His soldiers to take this blessed step, and of which one of its early fruits was the gathering together of over thirteen groups and fighting groups under one banner. After their blessed announcement after the perfume pact, the blessed fruits followed rapidly with dozens of groups and thousands of fighters from Jaish Al Mujahideen, Al-Jaysh Al-Islami, Thwarta Al-Ishreen, Ansar Al-Sunnah and others all pledging their allegiancein Fallujah, Karmah, Amiriyiah, Ramadi, Gharbiya, Tarmiyah, Seeniyah, Tikrit Samaraa, Ba’quba, and Al Adheem then onwards to Mosul, Kirkuk, Tal’afar and our beloved Baghdad. One of the greatest fruits was that 70% of the Sunni tribal elders rushed to join the perfume pact and pledge their allegiance to the nation of Islam and Muslims. I therefore thank my brothers, the elders of the families of Duleim, Jabur, Ubeid, Zawba’, Qais, Izza, Tay’, Jinabiyeen, Lihaliyeen, Mushahada, Daymiyah, Bani Zayd, Al-Mujamma’, Bani Shamr, Anza, Sumeida’, Nueim, Khazraj, Bani Luheib, Al-Bohiyaat, Bin Hamdan, Al-Sa’doon, Al Ghanim, Al Saaida, Al Ma’aadeed, Al Karabila, Al Salman and Al Kubaysaat.

I praise Allah and I thank Him for the establishment of the Shariah in many parts of this blessed state and by the request and pressure from our people themselves. We have set up for them courts to resolve the conflict between them and Allah has favored us (by enabling us) to resolve disputes that had continued for two decades of time that even they themselves had grown tired of. The laws of Allah have been implemented in many areas of this exalted nation. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said “That one law (of Allah) be implemented on earth, it is indeed better than they be rained on for seventy mornings.”

Again this too came by the request of our people themselves to the point that a man came with his daughter, which is very common in Iraq and she had committed adultery and said, implement on her the law of Allah and another man came confessing of it. And the law was implemented on him after the Friday prayer in a majestic scene in front of the people who cried out “Allah is the greatest” because they, for the first time in their life, saw a law of Allah being implemented and the false excuses of the people of mischief sprang forward and we expelled them from many of the places. We then started putting workers forward to collect the Zakah and to collect taxes and the charities throughout most of Islamic nation.

Allah the Almighty says;
And take from them their charity money that cleanse them and purify with it. (9:103)

What has come to pass shows the falsehood of those who said that there is no power (thorn) or acceptance for us. As the hand of Allah is the highest and the word of the Mujahideen is the established one in most of the places. Even the enemy confesses to this when it said that the Al-Qaeda organization has taken control of Anbar and has earned fame there. And Al-Qaeda is nothing more than a group in the groups of the Islamic nation and we in Naina and in Salahuddien, for example, and in Diyala are better than that. As for in Baghdad both the high and the low among them know that the sons of this nation are the soldiers of Allah who have encountered and cut the hands of the cunning Magians over a long period and nothing is stopping us from taking complete control except matters that are not yet in place yet we are confident that Allah will soon dispose it by His power and Might.

Allah knows, I have refused over and over to be the Commander of the Muslims and I did not dream of being anything except a soldier in the large assemblage of the Muslims, fighting in the way of Allah until Allah is worshipped alone. I have never been a Commander from the Commanders of these groups but the people surrounded us and saw goodness in us so we pray to Allah to make me better than what they think. I decided not to take any decision except after consultation of my brothers and for that we have set up a vast Majlis Shura Council (the consultancy council). In it are three representatives of each group that has joined the Islamic nation that does not take into consideration the size of its forces or the size of its operations. There are also representatives from some of the bigger families besides some others with specialized skills and experience. From this a smaller Majlis Shura Council was formed consisting of five people to ponder over matters that are important and require immediate decision making and we ask Allah success and guidance.

O Ummah of Islam, we have been slain by the knife of nationality and then we were divided by the shredder of patriotism to a country and then we were called back to be divided on the basis of tribalism. These we all the calls of ignorance.

O the Ummah of Islam, we are not in need today of those who shed tears or those who compose poems. We are today in need of those who makes sacrifices and listened to Allah’s words to “march forth heavy or light” and then flew off his bed, brushed cowardice and lowness from his breast and rode in the direction of jihad, his appearance no longer hidden.

To this end we call first upon the groups of former Iraqi army officials from the rank of an ordinary soldier to the officers to join the army of the Islamic state; on the condition that the candidate must know by heart at three sections of the Holy Quran and passes an exam on Aqeedah (belief) conducted by the Shariah committee that is present in every area so that his disbelief on arrogance and tyranny becomes apparent. We in turn with the will of Allah provide him with transportation, housing, a proper salary that ensures him a respectful life like the rest of the Mujahideen who come under the flag of Islamic state.

Allah says:
Those who believe fight in the cause of Allah, and those who reject faith fight in the cause of evil (Tagut): so fight ye against the friends, of Satan: feeble indeed is the cunning of Satan. (4: 76)

O the Ummah of Islam, my beloved Ummah, the defiant one is becoming weary and has started searching for an escape and striving for talks with every possible sides and parties. It has through its agents the Family of Sulul (the house of Saud), the tyrants of the peninsula has sent word to us that they (America) have met with each party except us and that they are seeking talks with us.

We say to them, we are not of those who talk with the ones who have been spilled in the blood of our children, shed the tears of our mothers and has made our land impure by their feet. Today we issue this order so accept it obediently and with humility before you regret the consequences. We order you to pull your forces out immediately under these conditions;

1. The pull out must be only on personnel carriers and personnel transport aircraft
2. Each member of the withdrawing forces is only allowed to carry light weapons. All other heavy weapons, war gear, and other equipment must be left behind.
3. All military bases must be handed over to the Islamic State of Iraq.
4. The length of time to make this withdrawl is only one month and we in our turn will allow your pullout without its getting attacked by any road side bomb or attack.
5. We wait for your response during the next two weeks from this declaration.
As for those who are holding secret talks tell them to stop the military operations for one month, even in a single district, if they were true in their claim that they have control over the Mujahideen and the leaders of the resistance and await for the results. Then you will understand you fools that you are holding talks with cowards and liars like yourself.

And we say to Bush don’t waste this historic opportunity to withdraw safely like you wasted the offer of amnesty proposed by the Sheikh of Mujahideen, Sheikh Osama bin Laden, may Allah preserve him.

And I warn you that your now familiar stupidity should you commit more massacres in the innocent civilians and our women and children. You had dare not increase the volcano with fire for that is better for you are safer.

Allah says:
Seest thou not how thy Lord dealt with the Àd (people), of the (city of) Iram, with lofty pillars, The like of which were not produced in (all) the land? And with the Thamüd (people), who cut out (huge) rocks in the valley? And with Pharaoh, lord of stakes? (All) these transgressed beyond bounds in the lands, and heaped therein mischief (on mischief). Therefore did thy Lord pour on them a scourge of diverse chastisements: For thy Lord is Watchful. (89: 6 – 14)

Oh Ummah of Jihad, we are in the days of Allah when good deeds are doubled. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “there are no days in which good deeds are more beloved to Allah than these days.” And it is indeed the mercy of our Lord; so they faced it, and the doors of Paradise have opened so hurry to seek after it. Indeed we find the wind of paradise in the explosives of our propellers, so let not its scent escape you and the crown of glory worn by the Mujahideen. Do not deny yourselves its credit.

In these blessed days we declare a raid by the name of “The Forceful Expedition” that will finish by the end of Eid. Force back the enemy and show it your power and be united for those together are victorious. Minimize the differences of your commanders and let the slogan of every Mujahid be:
Then fight (O Muhammad) in the cause of Allah, your are not tasked (held responsible) except for yourself, and incite the believers (to fight along with you). (4:84)

And fear the saying of Allah:
If you march not forth, he will punish you with a painful torment and will replace you by another people… (9:39)

Seek the glad tidings of the victory of Allah for its coming inevitably, for the promise of Allah is true and rely on Allah the One, the Only, the Mighty, the Powerful.

And he who puts his trust on Allah then He is sufficient for him. (65:3)
And remember the saying of your Lord:
Fighting is prescribed upon you, and ye dislike it. But it is possible that ye dislike a thing which is good for you. (2:216)

And know that you have brothers who have raced you on this path:
Among the believers are men who have been true to their covenant with Allah i.e. they have gone out for Jihad (holy fighting), and showed not their backs to the disbelievers; of them some have fulfilled their obligations (i.e. have been martyred); and some of them are still waiting, but they have never changed (i.e. they never proved treacherous to their covenant which they concluded with Allah) in the least. (33:23)

And Allah is victorious in His decree, but most people do not know.

Your brother,
Abu Omar al Husaini al Quraishi al Baghdadi
December 22, 20062 Dhul Hijjah 1427H

* New Interview with Ameerul Mumineen Mullah Umar

New Interview with Ameer al-Mu’mineen Mullah ‘Umar
January 5, 2007

(( The source of this article is questionable since some say there are some secularists behind it, however the Taliban haven’t made any statements against its publication yet. We will notify here if they do.


PESHAWAR, Jan 3: Reclusive Taliban leader Mulla Mohammad Omar has said he will never hold negotiations with the US-backed Karzai government in Afghanistan and warned that “the war” will be escalated to such an extent that foreign troops are compelled to leave the strife-torn country and institutions established by them are dismantled.

“Foreign troops should at once leave Afghanistan and then the institutions they created should be dismantled. Unless this happens, war will heat up further. It will not recede,” the Taliban supreme leader said in response to written questions sent to him through his media spokesperson.

In his first interview with a Pakistani newspaper since the puritanical militia were driven from power in 2001, Mulla Omar responded to criticism of the hard-line Taliban rule, his stated aversion to negotiations with the Karzai government, provision of shelter to — and subsequent refusal to hand over – Osama bin Laden to the United States, a clampdown on girls education, his whereabouts and alleged support from Pakistan.

The Taliban spokesman Dr Mohammad Hanif, who helped conduct the interview through email, said Mulla Omar read the questions and responded to them personally. He said that the questionnaire was delivered to him through a special emissary.

Here are the excerpts of Mulla Omar’s answers, which were in his native Pashto and their Urdu translation was delivered to Dawn by Dr Hanif through email.
- abu muQatil))

Q: Looking back, what mistakes do you think the Taliban made when they ruled Afghanistan — mistakes that you would not want to repeat?

A: You know that our [Taliban] movement came to power at a time when Afghanistan was in a war-like situation. Though the Taliban had established its writ in areas that they had conquered but we were still fighting our enemy [the Northern Alliance] in other parts of the country. We could have formed a real government had we achieved full and total control over the entire country and we did manage to run the government in an organised manner with the blessings of shariah and divine laws. But if there were problems, those were largely because of the conspiracies of the infidels and foreign enemies. For instance, the imposition of sanctions on the Taliban, strengthening of anti-Taliban forces and preparing them to fight the mujahideen.

Without doubt, had there been no such difficulty, we would have overcome those problems. But still I can say this with confidence that the way we managed to form a peaceful government, it could not have been done by anyone else.

Q: Do you think that your stand on giving refuge to Osama bin Laden before the US invasion of Afghanistan was a mistake. Do you regret it now?

A: Our stand to grant refuge to Osama bin Laden was based on principles. If there were people who were opposed to us giving refuge to him, they should have used logic and reason. They should not have used threats.

Q: Your refusal to hand over Osama bin Laden distanced Afghanistan from two of its allies, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia? Do you think it was the right decision?

A: I had never agreed to hand over Osama bin Laden to the United States. If someone says that I did, then they must have been dreaming. If we had wanted to hand over Osama, we would not have given such a big sacrifice.

Q: The Taliban earned international criticism for destroying the ancient Bamiyan Buddhas, closing down schools for girls and a strict interpretation of shariah. When you look back, do you think those were right decisions?

A: Shariah is sharia. A number of Muslims have been influenced by other civilisations and that’s why they seem to find Islamic injunctions too difficult [to follow]. Girls schools were either too few or were non-existent before we took over. We were preparing a strategy for girls education in accordance with shariah.

As for the destruction of the Bamiyan Buddhas, for the rest of the world it was a matter of [preserving] archeology. It had nothing to do with political or diplomatic matters.

Q: When the ulema shura asked Osama bin Laden to leave Afghanistan, why did he not leave. His refusal eventually led to the fall of the Taliban government after 9/11?

A: This is based on a big misunderstanding the media has created. There is no truth in it. If someone looks into it, they would find that the ulema had asked him to leave of his own accord. They had not told him to leave. On the contrary, the ulema had declared jihad against the United States in total opposition to his surrender to the Americans.

Q: Some analysts say that the Taliban were too weak to oust Osama bin Laden and Al Qaeda from Afghanistan who were very strong? Is this true?

A: I have already answered this question.

Q: What are your views on suicide bombings? Do you think Islam allows them?

A: The mujahideen do not take any action without fatwa [Islamic edicts]. They seek fatwas before they take any action.

Q: What is the present relationship between the Taliban and Al Qaeda?

A: We have never felt the need for a permanent relationship in the present circumstances. But they [the Al-Qaeda] have set jihad as their goal while we have set the expulsion of American troops from Afghanistan as our target. This is the common goal of all the Muslims.

Q: Have you met Osama bin Laden since the Taliban were driven out of power in 2001?

A: I have neither seen him nor have made any effort to do so, but I do pray for his health and safety.

Q: The Afghanistan government believes that you and other Taliban leaders are hiding in Pakistan and are getting support from Islamabad. What do you think of Pakistan’s present government and is it supporting the Taliban?

A: We have not received any assistance so far. Nor can anybody prove it. The propaganda by the western media is always without any proof and is meaningless, that’s why they [the US] are using the media as a loudspeaker for their war command. The leadership, resistance and shura are all based here in Afghanistan.

Q: Pakistan and Afghanistan are jointly coordinating efforts to hold jirgas to end violence in Afghanistan? How do you view these efforts? Will the Taliban support jirgas to end the conflict and will they participate in such jirgas if asked to do so?

A: A jirga is supposed to consist of neutral people. I cannot recognise such jirgas [as being planned by Islamabad and Kabul] which I believe are a conspiracy hatched by the American intelligence to use the courageous people of Afghanistan for their own vested interests. But I can say with absolute certainty that no one other than government officials will participate in such programmes. Only those people would participate in them who are sold out to foreign forces. Our participation is absolutely out of the question.

Q: What in your opinion can be done to end violence in Afghanistan? Do you have any suggestions?

A: First of all, foreign troops should leave Afghanistan and then the institutions they created should be dismantled. Unless that happens, war will heat up further. It will not recede.

Q: What is the Taliban’s motivation for the present insurgency? Is this Pashtun nationalism seeking to drive out foreign forces? Or is it the Taliban wanting to drive out foreign forces, remove the present government and establish “Islamic Emirate”?

A: The people [of Afghanistan] have risen to fight the Americans. Nobody can tolerate this kind of subjugation and sacrilege of their culture and religion. It would be humiliating for anybody to think that the nation does not want to evict American forces. No nation can accept the dictates of a handful of dollar-greedy and treacherous people. In fact the Taliban are not confined to a particular tribe or people; the Muslims of the entire region take pride in them.

Q: Pakistan says the Taliban movement is dead and what is now happening is actually a Pashtun uprising. Do you agree with this?

A: In short, I would like to say that without doubt the people of the region are behind us, not on a tribal or ethnic basis but in a national and Islamic spirit.

Q: Can there be a peaceful settlement of the present situation in Afghanistan? Do you agree to any mediation by a third party and whom would you want to play this role?

A: There is no permanent government in Afghanistan. Therefore, first, I don’t recognise any such set-up that calls itself government. Instead of negotiating with those who have come into power on the backing of foreign powers, it would be appropriate to give them the message to leave Afghanistan along with their [foreign] masters.

Q: How do you view Pakistan’s role before and after 9/11?

A: I am confronted with problems in my own country. [Therefore] it would be difficult for me for to comment on issues outside the country.

* Rise up and march with Somalia 2 crush Christianity

* Rise up and march with Somalia 2 crush Christianity


RISE UP AND MARCH WITH SOMALIA TO DESTROY CHRISTIANITY AND ESTABLISH KHILAFAH


“I appeal whole Muslim nation to react to the barbarism of Ethiopia and to answer the call from Somalia. It is the religious duty for all Muslims to help the Muslims of Somalia from Ethiopian aggression and to respect the call for Jihad.” Abu Muqatil said.

“The slaves of Satanic America are trying to capture the Islamic land from Muslims. They are the army of Bush, who are fighting the crusade. So, this is Fard Ain for all Muslims to rise up and march to Somalia to crush the Christianity and to protect the UIC and the Muslims of Somalia.” Abu Muqatil said.


*** *** *** ***

DOORS OF JIHAD OPEN IN SOMALIA

A Somali Islamic Courts defence chief has for the first time called on foreign Muslim fighters to join his movement's war against Ethiopia.


"We're saying our country is open to Muslims worldwide. Let them fight in Somalia and wage jihad, and God willing, attack Addis Ababa," Yusuf Mohamed Siad, known as Inda'ade, said.


" Today the war is being fought by land and air," Sheikh Mahmud Ibrahim Suley, an SICS official, told reporters in Mogadishu.


"We want anyone who can help remove the enemy to come in," he told a news conference in the Mogadishu, the Somali capital and an Islamic Courts stronghold."Our Islamic fighters have taken control of Idale and are heading to other parts where Tigray (Ethiopian) invaders are now based, by the will of Allah, we will liberate our people and country from the Ethiopian invaders," Islamic Courts Information chief Abdurahim Ali Muddey said the AFP."We are at war with Ethiopia, but not with the government," Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, the Islamic Courts leader said on Thursday.


Somalia's Islamic courts on Monday, June 5, claimed victory over a US-backed warlord alliance after four months of fierce fighting in the capital Mogadishu that claimed the lives of hundreds as the interim government invited the courts to take part in dialogue.


"The Joint Islamic Courts are not interested in a continuation of hostilities and will fully implement peace and security after the change has been made by the victory of the people with the support of Allah," its chairman Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed said in a statement cited by Agence France-Presse (AFP).


He said fighters loyal to the Islamic courts have seized the capital Mogadishu from the US-backed Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter-Terrorism (ARPCT).


"The JIC will take care of the safety of the people and freedom of individuals and will eradicate any sort of hostilities brought about by inter-clan fighting," said Sheikh Ahmed.


*** *** *** ***

"As happened in Iraq and Afghanistan, when the world's strongest power was defeated by the campaigns of the mujahidin troops going to heaven, so its slaves shall be defeated on the Muslim lands of Somalia.”



"You must ambush, mine, raid and [carry out] martyrdom campaigns so that you can wipe them out," Dr. Ayman Al Zawahiri said.


"I call on my Muslim brothers everywhere to fulfil the call for jihad in Somalia," he said.



*** *** *** ***


Up to 347 people have been killed and more than 1,500 wounded in fierce fighting between his forces and ARPCT militias since February.Warlords have controlled Mogadishu since the 1991 overthrow of president Mohamed Siad Barre.The African country has lacked almost all the trappings of a functional state, such as national systems of education, healthcare and justice.


Al Jazeera's correspondent in Mogadishu, the Somali capital, said that tensions were running high with loud speakers at mosques calling on Somalis to sign up in preparation to fight against what the UIC calls "aggression" against their country by Ethiopia.


He said there are fears that with UIC fighters and Ethiopian and Somali government troops being in such close proximity, any type of small skirmish could lead to the beginning of a war.


The Islamists took Mogadishu in June and spread across south Somalia, challenging the aspirations of the government of Abdullahi Yusuf, the Somali president, to restore central rule to the Horn of Africa nation for the first time since warlords removed a dictator in 1991

* Jihad against Crusaders

Jihad Against Jews and Crusaders

World Islamic Front Statement

Shaykh Usamah Bin-Muhammad Bin-Ladin

Ayman al-Zawahiri, amir of the Jihad Group in Egypt

Abu-Yasir Rifa'i Ahmad Taha, Egyptian Islamic Group

Shaykh Mir Hamzah, secretary of the Jamiat-ul-Ulema-e-Pakistan

Fazlur Rahman, amir of the Jihad Movement in Bangladesh

Praise be to Allah, who revealed the Book, controls the clouds, defeats factionalism, and says in His Book: "But when the forbidden months are past, then fight and slay the pagans wherever ye find them, seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war)"; and peace be upon our Prophet, Muhammad Bin-'Abdallah, who said: I have been sent with the sword between my hands to ensure that no one but Allah is worshipped, Allah who put my livelihood under the shadow of my spear and who inflicts humiliation and scorn on those who disobey my orders.

The Arabian Peninsula has never -- since Allah made it flat, created its desert, and encircled it with seas -- been stormed by any forces like the crusader armies spreading in it like locusts, eating its riches and wiping out its plantations. All this is happening at a time in which nations are attacking Muslims like people fighting over a plate of food. In the light of the grave situation and the lack of support, we and you are obliged to discuss current events, and we should all agree on how to settle the matter.

No one argues today about three facts that are known to everyone; we will list them, in order to remind everyone:

First, for over seven years the United States has been occupying the lands of Islam in the holiest of places, the Arabian Peninsula, plundering its riches, dictating to its rulers, humiliating its people, terrorizing its neighbors, and turning its bases in the Peninsula into a spearhead through which to fight the neighboring Muslim peoples.

If some people have in the past argued about the fact of the occupation, all the people of the Peninsula have now acknowledged it. The best proof of this is the Americans' continuing aggression against the Iraqi people using the Peninsula as a staging post, even though all its rulers are against their territories being used to that end, but they are helpless.

Second, despite the great devastation inflicted on the Iraqi people by the crusader-Zionist alliance, and despite the huge number of those killed, which has exceeded 1 million... despite all this, the Americans are once against trying to repeat the horrific massacres, as though they are not content with the protracted blockade imposed after the ferocious war or the fragmentation and devastation.

So here they come to annihilate what is left of this people and to humiliate their Muslim neighbors.

Third, if the Americans' aims behind these wars are religious and economic, the aim is also to serve the Jews' petty state and divert attention from its occupation of Jerusalem and murder of Muslims there. The best proof of this is their eagerness to destroy Iraq, the strongest neighboring Arab state, and their endeavor to fragment all the states of the region such as Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Sudan into paper statelets and through their disunion and weakness to guarantee Israel's survival and the continuation of the brutal crusade occupation of the Peninsula.

All these crimes and sins committed by the Americans are a clear declaration of war on Allah, his messenger, and Muslims. And ulema have throughout Islamic history unanimously agreed that the jihad is an individual duty if the enemy destroys the Muslim countries.

This was revealed by Imam Bin-Qadamah in "Al- Mughni," Imam al-Kisa'i in "Al-Bada'i," al-Qurtubi in his interpretation, and the shaykh of al-Islam in his books, where he said: "As for the fighting to repulse [an enemy], it is aimed at defending sanctity and religion, and it is a duty as agreed [by the ulema]. Nothing is more sacred than belief except repulsing an enemy who is attacking religion and life."

On that basis, and in compliance with Allah's order, we issue the following fatwa to all Muslims: The ruling to kill the Americans and their allies -- civilians and military -- is an individual duty for every Muslim who can do it in any country in which it is possible to do it, in order to liberate the al-Aqsa Mosque and the holy mosque [Mecca] from their grip, and in order for their armies to move out of all the lands of Islam, defeated and unable to threaten any Muslim. This is in accordance with the words of Almighty Allah, "and fight the pagans all together as they fight you all together," and "fight them until there is no more tumult or oppression, and there prevail justice and faith in Allah."

This is in addition to the words of Almighty Allah: "And why should ye not fight in the cause of Allah and of those who, being weak, are ill-treated (and oppressed)? -- women and children, whose cry is: 'Our Lord, rescue us from this town, whose people are oppressors; and raise for us from thee one who will help!'"

We -- with Allah's help -- call on every Muslim who believes in Allah and wishes to be rewarded to comply with Allah's order to kill the Americans and plunder their money wherever and whenever they find it. We also call on Muslim ulema, leaders, youths, and soldiers to launch the raid on Satan's U.S. troops and the devil's supporters allying with them, and to displace those who are behind them so that they may learn a lesson.

Almighty Allah said: "O ye who believe, give your response to Allah and His Apostle, when He calleth you to that which will give you life. And know that Allah cometh between a man and his heart, and that it is He to whom ye shall all be gathered."

Almighty Allah also says: "O ye who believe, what is the matter with you, that when ye are asked to go forth in the cause of Allah, ye cling so heavily to the earth! Do ye prefer the life of this world to the hereafter? But little is the comfort of this life, as compared with the hereafter. Unless ye go forth, He will punish you with a grievous penalty, and put others in your place; but Him ye would not harm in the least. For Allah hath power over all things."

Almighty Allah also says: "So lose no heart, nor fall into despair. For ye must gain mastery if ye are true in faith."

* Aqabah Pledge

THE FIRST ‘AQABAH PLEDGE


We have already spoken about six Madinese who embraced Islam in the pilgrimage season in the eleventh year of Prophethood. They promised to communicate the Message of Islam to their townsfolk.

The following year, on the occasion of the pilgrimage, there came a group of twelve disciples ready to acknowledge Muhammad as their Prophet. The group of men comprised five of the six who had met the Prophet (Peace be upon him) the year before, the sixth who stayed away was Jabir bin ‘Abdullah bin Reyab, the other seven were:

1. Mu‘adh bin Al-Harith, Ibn ‘Afra, from Khazraj.
2. Dhakwan bin ‘Abd Al-Qais, from Khazraj.
3. ‘Ubadah bin As-Samit, from Khazraj.
4. Yazeed bin Tha‘labah, from Khazraj.
5. ‘Al-‘Abbas bin ‘Ubadah bin Nadalah, from Khazraj.
6. Abul Haitham bin At-Taihan, from Aws.
7. ‘Uwaim bin Sa‘idah, from Aws.

They avowed their faith in Muhammad (Peace be upon him) as a Prophet and swore: “We will not worship any one but one Allah; we will not steal; neither will we commit adultery, nor kill our children; we will not utter slander, intentionally forging falsehood and we will not disobey you in any just matter.” When they had taken the pledge, Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said: “He who carries it out, Allâh will reward him; and who neglects anything and is afflicted in this world, it may prove redemption for him in the Hereafter; and if the sin remains hidden from the eyes of the men and no grief comes to him, then his affair is with Allâh. He may forgive him or He may not.”

THE MUSLIM ENVOY IN MADINAH:

After the Pledge (in the form of an oath had been taken) the Prophet (Peace be upon him) sent to Yathrib (Madinah) Mus‘ab bin ‘Umair Al-‘Abdari, (May Allah be pleased with him) the first Muslim ‘ambassador’ to teach the people there the doctrines of Islam, give them practical guidance and make attempts at propagating the Islam among those who still professed polytheism.

As‘ad bin Zurarah hosted him in Madinah. So prepared was the ground, and so zealous the propagation that the Islam spread rapidly from house to house and from tribe to tribe. There were various cheerful and promising aspects of success that characterized Mus‘ab’s task. One day Mus‘ab and As‘ad were on their way to the habitations of Bani ‘Abd Al-Ashhal and Bani Zafar, when they went into the premises of the latter clan. There they sat near a well conversing with some new converts.

Sa‘d bin Mu‘adh and Usaid bin Hudair, chiefs o f the two clans heard of this meeting, so Usaid approached the Muslims armed with his lance while the other Sa‘d excused himself on grounds that As‘ad was his maternal cousin. Usaid came closer cursing and swearing and accused the two men of befooling people weak of heart, and ordered that they stop it altogether.

Mus‘ab calmly invited him to sit saying, “If you are pleased with our talk, you can accept it; should you hold it in abhorrence, you could freely immunize yourself against what you hate.” “That’s fair,” said Usaid, pierced his lance in the sand, listened to Mus‘ab and then heard some verses of the Noble Qur’ân. His face bespoke satisfaction and pleasure before uttering any words of approval. He asked the two men about the procedures pertinent to embracing Islam. They asked him to observe washing, purge his garment, bear witness to the Truth and then perform two Rak‘a.


He responded and did exactly what he was asked to do, and then said there was a man (Sa‘d bin Mu‘adh) whose people would never hang b ack if he followed the Islam. He then left to see Sa‘d and his people. Sa‘d could immediately understand that Usaid had changed. To a question posed by Sa‘d, Usaid said that two men were ready to comply with whatever orders they received. He then managed a certain situation that provided the two men with a chance to talk with Sa‘d privately.

The previous scene with Usaid recurred and Sa‘d embraced Islam, and directly turned to his people swearing that he would never talk with them until they had believed in Allâh, and in His Messenger. Hardly did the evening of that day arrive when all the men and women of that sept of Arabians embraced Islam with the exception of one, Al-Usairim, who hung back until the Day of Uhud.

On that day he embraced Islam and fought the polytheists but was eventually killed before observing any prostration in the way of prayer. The Prophet (Peace be upon him) commented saying: “He has done a little but his reward is great.”

Mus‘ab stayed in Madinah carrying out his mission diligently and successfully until all the houses of Al-Ansar (the future Helpers) had Muslims elements, men and women. One family only stood 74 obdurate to the Islamic Da‘wah (Call). They were under the influence of the poet Qais bin Al-Aslat, who managed to hold them at bay and screen off the Call of Islam from their ears until the year 5 A.H.

Shortly before the approach of the following pilgrimage season, i.e. the thirteenth year of
Prophethood, Mus‘ab bin ‘Umair returned to Makkah carrying to the Prophet (Peace be upon him) glad tidings about the new fertile soil ofIslam in Madinah, and its environment rich in the prospects of good, and the power and immunity that that city was bound to provide to the cause of Islam.

THE SECOND ‘AQABAH PLEDGE


The next year, thirteenth of Prophethood, June 622 A.D., during the pilgrimage season, over
seventy converts from Madinah came in the trail of their polytheist people to perform the rituals of pilgrimage in Makkah.

The oft-repeated question amongst them was “Isn’t it high time we protect Muhammad instead of leaving him forsaken, deserted and stumbling in the hillocks of Makkah?”

Shortly after arrival, they conducted clandestine contacts with the Prophet (Peace be upon him) and agreed to meet him secretly at night in mid Tashreeq Days (the 11th, 12th and 13th days of Dhul Hijja) in a hillock at Al-‘Aqabah, the last year’s meeting place.


One of the leaders of the Ansâr (Helpers), Ka‘b bin Malik Al-Ansari (May Allah be pleased with him), gave an account of the historic meeting which changed the whole course of the struggle between Islam and paganism, he said: We set out for pilgrimage and struck a rendezvous in mid Tashreeq Days. We were accompanied by a celebrity and a notable of ours called ‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr bin Haram, who was still a polytheist. We disclosed to him our intention of meeting Muhammad (Peace be upon him) and exhorted him to join our ranks and give up polytheism lest he should serve as wood for Hell in the Hereafter. He promptly embraced Islam and witnessed the serious meeting at Al-‘Aqabah. That very night we slept with our people in our camps.

After a third of the night had elapsed, we began to leave stealthily and met in a hillock nearby. We were seventy three men and two women Nusaibah bint Ka‘b from the Najjars and Asma’ bint ‘Amr from Bani Salamah.


We waited for the Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him) until he came in the company of his uncle Al-‘Abbas bin ‘Abdul Muttalib who (though himself not a Muslim), adjured us not to draw his nephew away from the protection of his own kindred unless we were fully prepared to defend him even at the risk of our lives. He was the first to speak:


“O you people of the Khazraj — the Arabs used to call the Ansâr (Helpers) Khazraj, whether from Khazraj or Aws — you all know the position that Muhammad holds among us. We have protected him from our people as much as we could. He is honoured and respected among his people. He refuses to join any party except you. So if you think you can carry out what you promise while inviting him to your town, and if you can defend him against the enemies, then assume the burden that you have taken. But if you are going to surrender him and betray him after having taken him away with you, you had better leave him now because he is respected and well defended in his own place.”


Ka‘b replied: “We have heard your words, and now O Messenger of Allâh, it is for you to speak and take from us any pledge that you want regarding your Lord and yourself.”

It was a definite stance showing full determination, courage and deep faith to shoulder the daunting responsibility and bear its serious consequences.

The Messenger of Allâh then preached the Faith, and the pledge was taken. Al-Imam Ahmad, on the authority of Jabir, gave the following details:


The Ansâr (Helpers) asked the Messenger of Allâh about the principles over which they would take a pledge. The Prophet answered:

1. To listen and obey in all sets of circumstances.
2. To spend in plenty as well as in scarcity.
3. To enjoin good and forbid evil.
4. In Allâh’s service, you will fear the censure of none.
5. To defend me in case I seek your help, and debar me from anything you debar yourself,
your spouses and children from. And if you observe those precepts, Paradise is in store for
you.


In another version narrated by Ka‘b, he said: The Prophet (Peace be upon him) began to speak, recited some Qur’ânic verses, called people unto Allâh, exhorted them to enter the fold of Islam and concluded saying: “I give you my pledge that you debar me from whatever you debar your women and children from.”

Here Al-Bara’ bin Ma‘rur, caught him by hand, and said: “Oh yes, we swear by Allâh, Who sent you as a Prophet in Truth, that we will debar you from whatever we debar our women from. Have confidence in us, O Messenger of Allâh. By Allâh, we are genuine fighters and quite reliable in war, it is a trait passed down to us from our ancestors.”


Then ‘Abul Haitham At-Taihan interrupted and said: “O Prophet of Allâh! Between us and the Jews, there are agreements which we would then s ever. If Allâh grants you power and victory, should we expect that you would not leave us, and join the ranks of your people (meaning Quraish)?”

The Prophet (Peace be upon him) smiled and replied:
“Nay, it would never be; your blood will be my blood. In life and death I will be with you and you with me. I will fight whom you fight and I will make peace with those with whom you make peace.”


After the negotiations concerning the conditions of allegiance had ended, and all of the audience were unanimously agreed to ratify it, two men of the early generation of converts who had embraced Islam in the eleventh and twelfth years rose to their feet to apprise the others of the serious step they were about to take so that they could give their pledge fully aware of the whole affair and consequently be ready for the sacrifice they were expected to make.

Al ‘Abbas bin Ubada bin Nadlah, in this context, remarked: “O you people of Khazraj! Do you know the significance of the pact that you are entering into with this man? You are in fact avowing that you will fight against all and sundry. If you fear that your property will be at stake or the lives of your nobles will be endangered, then leave him now, because if you do this after the pledge, it will be degrading for you both in this world and the world to come. But if you think that you can carry out what you are called upon to do in spite of the loss of precious lives and property, then undertake this heavy responsibility, and I swear by Allâh, that herein lies the good of this world and that of the next.”


They replied, “We have already considered the loss of property and the murder of our notables, yet we pay him allegiance. But what is our reward if we observe all the items of this pact?”

The Prophet replied: “Paradise is in store for you.”

Then they asked him to stretch out his hand, and they all stretched out their hands and took the pledge. Only at that time did As‘ad bin Zurarah come to realize the people’s readiness for sacrifice in the cause of Allâh.


On the authority of Jabir, who said: “When we started to pay allegiance to the Prophet (Peace be upon him) , As‘ad bin Zurarah stood up and gave the following short address:

“Take it easy people of Yathrib! We have not covered that long distance except because we have had deep belief that he (Muhammad (Peace be upon him) ) is the Messenger of Allâh. We are already convinced that following him entails departure from the pagan Arabs even if it were at the risk of our life. Should you preserve in this course, holdfast to it, and your great reward is placed in the Hand of Allâh, but if you are caught in fear, I admonish you to give it up just now, and then you would be more excusable by Allâh.”


With respect to the two women, the pledge was taken orally for the Prophet (Peace be upon him) had never shaken hands with a strange lady.

The Prophet (Peace be upon him) then asked the group to appoint twelve deputies to preach Islam to their people in Madinah, to shoulder the responsibility of implementing the articles of this pledge and to guide the respective men of their own tribes in matters relating to the propagation of Islam.

The deputies elected were nine from Al-Khazraj: As‘ad bin Zurarah bin ‘Ads, Sa‘d bin Ar-Rabi‘ bin ‘Amr, ‘Abdullah bin Rawahah bin Tha‘labah, Rafi‘ bin Malik bin Al-‘Ajlan, Al-Bara’ bin Ma‘rur bin Sakhr, ‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr bin Haram, ‘Ubadah bin As-Samit bin Qais, Sa‘d bin ‘Ubadah bin Dulaim and Al-Mundhir bin ‘Amr bin Khunais.

Three others were from Al-Aws: Usaid bin Hudair bin Sammak, Sa‘d bin Khaithamah bin Al-Harith and Rifa‘a bin ‘Abdul Mundhir bin Zubair.


Once again, those twelvemen were sworn to act as surety over the affairs of their people just as the Christ’s disciples did, and the Prophet would act as surety over his people, meaning all the Muslims.


Somehow or other, the news of these secret desert meetings with the Madinese leaked out. The Prophet immediately knew that it was a certain pudgy ugly devil, inhabited in Al-‘Aqabah, who discovered their meeting, and he threatened to settle his account with him as soon as possible.


On hearing this, Al-‘Abbas bin Nadlah said “By Allâh, Who has sent you in Truth, we are powerful enough to put the people of Mina (the Quraishites) to our swords tomorrow, if you desire.”

The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said “We have not been commanded to follow that course. Now, back to your camps.” They went back to sleep till morning.


No sooner did Quraish hear of this treaty than a kind of trouble-provoking tumult began to mushroom in all directions. They realized quite fully that an allegiance of this sort is bound to produce far-reaching ramifications of direct impact on their lives and wealth.

The following day, a large delegation comprising the leaders and arch-criminals of Makkah set out for the camp of the Madinese to protest severely against the treaty. They addressed the Madinese: “O people of Khazraj, it transpired to us that you have come here to conclude a treaty with this man (Muhammad) and evacuate him out of Makkah. By Allâh, we do really hold in abhorrence any sort of fight between you and us.”


The Madinese polytheists having known nothing about the secretly taken pledge, began to swear by Allâh and answered in good faith that there was no truth in the report. ‘Abdullah bin Ubai bin Salul, a Madinese polytheist, refuted their allegations denouncing them as null and void, claiming that his people would never initiate anything unless he gave them clear orders.


The Madinese Muslims, however, remained silent neither negating nor confirming. The Quraishite leaders seemed to be almost convinced by the arguments presented by the polytheists, and went back home frustrated. However, they did not fully acquiesce in the words they heard.

They began to scrutinize the smallest details, and trace the minutest news till it was established beyond a shadow of doubt that the pact did take place, but that was after the Madinese pilgrims had left Makkah.

In a fit of rage, they pursued the pilgrims but did not succeed in catching hold of anyone except Sa‘d bin ‘Ubadah. They subjected him to unspeakable tortures, but he was later rescued by Al-Mut‘im bin ‘Adi and Harith bin Harb bin Omaiya with whom he had trade relations.


That is the story of the Second ‘Aqabah Pledge, later known as the Great ‘Aqabah Pledge, effected in an atmosphere of love, allegiance and mutual support between Madinese believers and weak Makkan Muslims. This new spirit of affection, rapport and cooperation could never be attributable to a fleeing whim, on the contrary, it totally derived from an already d eeply-established approach, viz.


Belief in Allâh, His Messenger and His Book. It was a Belief so rooted in the selves that it managed to stand immune to all powers of injustice and aggression, and could be translated into miracles in the practical aspects of action and ideology pursuit. That sort of Belief was the real instrument for the Muslims to record in the annals of history unprecedented breakthroughs. We are also sure that the future will always remain wanting as regards those great achievements carried out by those great men.

* Reform Can Only Take Place Through Jihad

‘Reform Can Only Take Place Through Jihad’

Sheikhul Jihad Al Imamul Mujahid Dr. Ayman Al Zawahiri

Al-Zawahiri:

"What did [the Americans] accomplish in Afghanistan? They removed the Taliban government from Kabul, and it settled in the villages and mountains, where the real power of Afghanistan lies. Northern Afghanistan and Kabul have become a scene of chaos, pillaging, looting, defiling [women's] honor, and drug dealing, which have flourished under the American occupation. Then they held elections, which resembled a masquerade more than anything, since the country's periphery is controlled by highway bandits and warlords, because the international committees monitoring the elections – or rather, those who bear false witness – could not cover more than 10 voting districts, even if they wanted to.

"Transferring the ballot boxes takes 15 days, under the control of the warlords and highway bandits, and then under the control of the occupation forces, and since any resistance, or anything resembling resistance or opposition, is met with bombardment, missiles, the burning of villages, and the killing of hundreds. After all this, they obtained the false testimony of the UN, which had seen nothing about which it could bear witness – except for several theatrics in a few voting districts in the cities. This is one example of the hypocrisy of the UN, which they claim to be the symbol of their international legitimacy.

"While the UN rejects the elections held in Zimbabwe, for example, because the time dedicated to voting was insufficient, it is silent as a graveyard about the elections in Afghanistan, which were held under the terrorism of the warlords. For fifteen days, the ballot boxes were passed around among the highway bandits and the American collaborators, and no one knows what happened to them before they appeared at the ballot-counting centers. While the UN whines about those killed in Darfur and establishes an international tribunal for the war crimes committed there, it was as silent as a graveyard about the tragedy of one million Iraqi children, who died as a result of the siege on Iraq – the same siege that profited UN officials and the son of Kofi Annan, as the UN itself admits. The UN was recently forced to reveal a part of this scandal, the stench of which spreads far and wide.

"The blessed London raid is one of the raids that the Qaedat Al-Jihad organization had the honor of carrying out against British Crusader arrogance, as well as the British Crusader aggression towards the Muslim nation over more than 100 years, against Britain's historic crime of establishing Israel, and against the ongoing crimes of the English perpetrated against Muslims in Afghanistan and Iraq.

"The last wills of the heroic brothers, the knights of monotheism in the London raids – may Allah have mercy upon them, may He place them in Paradise, and may He accept their good deeds... In these wills there are important lessons for the Muslim nation in general, and especially for Muslims in Pakistan and the West, about renouncing tyrants and exposing the lies of the scholars of evil, who conceal much of the Shari'a, preferring fleeting things of this life.

"This blessed raid and its sister raids have revealed the true, hypocritical face of Western culture, which praises human rights and liberties, as long as these praises serve its interests and benefit it. After the London raid, the British government started legislating a number of new laws that reveal Britain's despicable imperialistic face. They revealed that British freedom is, in fact, the freedom to be hostile to Islam. British freedom was broad enough to include Salman Rushdie, who recently published an article in The Times in which he calls upon Muslims to reach harmony with Western culture, casts doubt upon the divine entity and the Koran, and calls upon Muslims to accept Western values like homosexuality. However, its freedom was not broad enough to include Sheikh Abu Qatada, whom it arrested that same day, along with nine others, after signing extradition treaties with Jordan and Pakistan, knowing full well that members of the Muslim factions extradited to these countries would be subject to torture and even death.

"Reform can only take place through Jihad for the sake of Allah, and any call for reform that is not through Jihad is doomed to death and failure. We must understand the nature of the battle and conflict. Our enemies will not grant us our rights without Jihad. No one should be deceived by what happened in Georgia, the Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan, and so on, because those were changes that America wanted and encouraged. It allowed them to happen, and prevented the Russians from interfering. The Americans will not allow any Islamic regime to assume rule in the heart of the Islamic world, unless it collaborates with them, as is happening now in Iraq.

"Isn't America sending prisoners from Guantanamo and Bagram to Egypt and Jordan, where they are tortured by the very regimes which America insists should respect human rights? Brother Ibn Al-Sheikh Al-Liby was taken in a coffin and was transferred from Bagram to the National Security Department in Cairo, where he was severely tortured and held for one year, after which he was returned to Bagram. This is one of thousands of examples."

* The helmet of Nabiyul Malahim Imamul MuQatil Muhammad Rasoolullah

THE HELMET OF THE PROPHET OF ALLAH The prophet of War and the Imamul muQatil (Commander of the warrior)

A helmet is a hat made of steel to protect the head in war. The author has quoted two hadith in this chapter.

HADITH 1

Hazrat Anas radiyallahu anhu reports that, on the day when Makkah was conquered, the Prophet of Allah sallallahu alaihe wasallam wore a helmet when they entered the city. (The Prophet of Allah sallallahu alaihe wasallam removed the helmet after being satisfied that everything was under control).

Someone came to the Prophet of Allah sallallahu alaihe wasallam and said, "O' Messenger of Allah, this Ibn Khatl is holding the cover (black cloth) of the Ka'bah." The Prophet of Allah sallallahu alaihe wasallam replied, "Kill him." Commentary When the Prophet of Allah sallallahu alaihe wasallam entered Makkah Mukarramah as a conqueror, the people of Makkah became frightened.

There was no place to live nor a path to walk. The Prophet of Allah sallallahu alaihe wasallam who is well known for being merciful and generous, announced that the person who entered the House of Allah (Ka'bah) was safe, and those who remained in their homes were also safe. The one who laid down his arms was also safe, etc. There were eleven men and six women whose crimes could not be forgiven.

These people were not included in the general amnesty. It was announced that there was no mercy for these people. Among these criminals seven men and two women embraced Islam and were pardoned. The remaining four men and and four women were killed. Ibn Khatl was one of the eight that were punished. He had first come to Madinah Munawwarah where he accepted Islam and kept the name Abdullah. The Prophet of Allah sallallahu alaihe wasallam sent him to a tribe to collect zakah. He killed a Muslim slave just because he had not prepared meals on time. Fearing that if he returned to Madinah Munawwarah he would be punished by death, he became a murtad (apostate) and went to Makkah.

In Makkah he used to abuse the Prophet of Allah sallallahu alaihe wasallam. He purchased two slave girls, who sang songs in which the Prophet of Allah sallallahu alaihe wasallam was satirized. This made him feel happy. For this reason, despite of entering the Baytullah (Ka'bah), he was killed. There are many versions according to the Muhadditheen as to who the person was that killed him. A fiqhi mas'alah may also arise from this hadith that punishment and revenge is permissble in the Haram. The question needs a lengthy explanation, and there is no need for it here. It is omitted to keep the subject matter brief. These matters are referred to so that those who love to acquire knowledge and also students after reading it, will seek more information from their Mashaa'ikh. From this we also find a question of entering Makkah Mukarramah without Ihram, which is discussed in the hadith that follows.

HADITH 2

It is related from Hazrat Anas radiyallahu anhu that the Prophet of Allah sallallahu alaihe wasallam, when entering Makkah as a conqueror, wore a helmet on his auspicious head. After he had removed it, a person came and said, "O' Messenger of Allah, Ibn Khatl is clinging to the cover of the Ka'bah." The Prophet of Allah sallallahu alaihe wasallam replied, "He is not of the ones who have been granted amnesty, kill him."

Ibn Shihaab Zuhri says, "I have been informed that the Prophet of Allah sallallahu alaihe wasallam was not in the state of Ihraam."

Commentary

The last sentence in the above hadith by Imam Zuhri refers to a fiqhi mas'alah. According to the Hanafi's it is not permissible to enter Makkah Mukarramah without Ihraam, because it is mentioned in the hadith that it is not permissible to cross the meeqaat boundary without wearing Ihraam.

On the strength of the above hadith the Shafi'is say it is permissible. According to the Hanafi's this hadith cannot be used as an argument, because the prohibition was specially lifted for the Prophet of Allah sallallahu alaihe wasallam on this particular occasion.

Imam Bukhari and others have quoted narrations wherein the Prophet of Allah sallallahu alaihe wasallam has said, "This was permissible for me today (not wearing Ihraam) and not for any other person." It may be possible that Ibn Khatl went to hold the cover of the Ka'bah to repent and make supplications, since he knew that there was no amnesty for him. He remembered all his past deeds, turning apostate, and all that he had committed since. He may have done this to make a supplication, as these people also venerated and respected the Ka'bah. The simplest explanation seems to be that according to the old custom, he may have hoped for an amnesty, because of the sanctity and reverence for the Ka'bah, criminals were not killed in this state.